Morrisville State honors community member achievements

David Katleski accepts his Community Achievement Award from Morrisville State College President David Rogers at the college’s second annual Harvest Dinner.
Photo by Ken Chapman

Cazenovia, N.Y. >> Hundreds gathered at Morrisville State College’s second annual Harvest Dinner, “Food for Thought,” to recognize the achievements and contributions of four community members who share the college’s values and mission.

Honored during the event, held at the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton, in Cazenovia were:

Community Achievement Award

David J. Valesky, New York State Senate District 53

David Katleski, Founder and President of Empire Brewing Company

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Lifetime Achievement Award

Samuel D. Roberts, Commissioner for the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

The event attracted members of the campus and community, as well as dignitaries who came to acknowledge the honorees. Matt Mulcahy, television news anchor, reporter and managing editor of NBC 3 News, served as master of ceremonies.

The event enabled faculty, staff and students to get involved as well.

Kerry Beadle, chair of the Hospitality Technology Department and chef at the Copper Turret Restaurant & Brewhouse run by the auxiliary corporation of Morrisville State College, assisted culinary arts management students with preparation of appetizers and dessert.

Honorees bios David J. Valesky

Elected to the New York State Senate in 2004, David Valesky currently represents the 53rd Senate District, which includes all of Madison County and part of Oneida and Onondaga counties. He serves as the Deputy Leader of the Independent Democratic Conference, is the Vice Chair of the Senate Health Committee and also serves on the Agriculture; Ethics and Internal Governance; Finance; Racing, Gaming, and Wagering; Rules; and Transportation committees.

A strong supporter of New York’s agricultural business and longtime advocate for Morrisville State College, Valesky was instrumental in securing funding for the college’s aquaponics greenhouse and equine rehabilitation center.

Known for his tenacious advocacy for his community and district, Valesky’s legislative priorities include reducing property taxes and government waste, as well as fostering job creation and economic development in New York, especially upstate.

While in office he has sponsored legislation to promote investment in communities and to encourage businesses to locate and stay in New York State. Valesky has been at the forefront of the “buy local” movement across New York State, which has promoted the use of locally grown agricultural products in restaurants.

A native of Oneida, Valesky earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the State University of New York at Potsdam and a master’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut.

David Katleski

Throughout his career, David Katleski has made a profound impact on the brewing industry as well as the Central New York community.

Katleski, founder and president of Empire Brewing Company (1994) and Empire Farm Brewery (2016), has been instrumental in helping Morrisville State College develop and implement the College’s Brewing Institute. Katleski’s partnership with Morrisville State College’s academic programs and the START-UP NY initiative has brought invaluable experience and insight to the campus.

Katleski also serves Morrisville State College as a member of the President’s Advisory Council and the Advisory Council for the Brewing Institute. He continues to contribute as a leader with the Northeast Hop Alliance Conference which is held annually on the Morrisville State College campus.

Dedicated to supporting local businesses and the agricultural tradition of Central New York, Katleski partners with 60 local farmers for the production of the foods on Empire’s menu, and purchases 100 percent New York State renewable energy. Katleski’s Empire Farm Brewery, which opened its doors in 2016 to expand the agricultural component of Empire Brewing Co., has also helped revitalize Madison County’s rich hop history while growing crops that are used at each brewery location.

Awarded with the prestigious Brewers Association Defense of the Industry Award in 2013, Katleski is the founder and president of the New York State Brewers Association, which he established in 2003 and now works with more than 200 NYS breweries.

A native of the Endicott-Johnson City area near Binghamton, Katleski graduated with a business administration/accounting degree from Siena College.

Samuel D. Roberts

Samuel D. Roberts’ career has been marked by his commitment to community activism and public service in Central New York.

From his humble beginnings growing up in East Syracuse, to his current role as a key member serving in Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Cabinet, Roberts has always found opportunities to not only better himself, but to connect with people along the way.

A continuous supporter of Morrisville State College’s educational efforts, Roberts serves as a positive role model and proud alumnus of the Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), which is administered by the College and provides the urban community of Syracuse with innovative academic programs and vocational training programs.

Currently, Roberts serves as Commissioner of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), a role he was appointed to by Gov. Cuomo in June 2015. At OTDA, he leads an agency of more than 2,000 employees and a $5.2 billion annual budget. The agency is responsible for overseeing a range of the State’s most important programs for its low-income residents, connecting them to resources and services that can assist them during tough times. Commissioner Roberts provides leadership, guidance and support to local departments of social services in the administration of these programs.

Prior to his work at OTDA, Roberts served as a member of the New York State Assembly and was Chair of the Task Force on University-Industry Cooperation. He was elected to three consecutive terms in the Assembly, beginning in November 2010 to represent the 119th District and also in 2012 and 2014 to represent the newly-defined 128th District.

Roberts was also an Onondaga County legislator through five terms from 1990 to 1999 before serving as Superintendent of the Senator Hughes State Office Building at the Office of General Services. Roberts also served as a journeyman tool-and-die maker for General Motors for over three decades.

In addition to being a proud Syracuse EOC alumnus, Roberts earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Empire State College, an associate degree from Onondaga Community College and certificates in labor studies from Cornell University.

Emily O. Marshall

Emily Marshall, president of Marshall Realty, Inc. in Morrisville, has exemplified a lifetime of service and philanthropy.

A licensed insurance agent and owner of Emily Marshall Real Estate, she is the former owner of Miles B. Marshall Inc. and co-owner of Marshall Realty of Madison County.

A longtime friend of the college, Marshall has served as a member of the Morrisville College Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors since 1991.

A 1943 graduate of Madison Central School, Marshall worked for a cattle auctioneer for seven years before joining the insurance business which her husband, Miles, established in Morrisville in 1917.

An active member of the Morrisville community, she is a trustee for the Village of Morrisville. She has served as a member of the Morrisville-Eaton Central Schools Board of Education for 20 years, the Madison-Oneida BOCES School Board of Education for eight years and as secretary of Madison County Tourism for eight years.

Her ambitious endeavors include obtaining grants to start the Madison Hall Association, Madison County Tourism, the Route 20 Association Scenic Byway and the Chenango Canal Association. She has also devoted her time and resources to developing the village, building service roads, and renovating homes and properties throughout the village.

At age 91, Marshall is leading the implementation of the Master Plan for the village, leading the beautification of Jones Park, and assisting with starting a small business alliance locally, all with the help of many local volunteers.